Know Just a Little (About a Lot)

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.”
– Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)

One of the key GCS principles is the idea that a broad knowledge base is vital for anyone who wanting to engage the world at their full potential. This is an assertion that’s easy to make, but not something that’s always easy to apply in a world that places an extraordinarily emphasis on developing skills and expertise that can be very specific. In other words, our lives and priorities are often centered on developing practical (and specific) skill sets, because we’re taught the importance of depth, but not breadth. This is understandable—it’s depth that allows an athlete or musician to excel in his field, and it’s depth that produces world-class science, research, and technology. It’s depth that put a man on the moon, and it’s usually depth that allows us to excel in our hobbies, interests, or even leisure activities.

So if our world seems geared towards rewarding expertise, why seek out knowledge that’s a mile wide and an inch deep?

To put it simply, it’s something than allows us to engage more effectively with the world around us.

Without diminishing the importance of depth, our particular focus at GCS is on developing our skills and abilities in the way that we relate to other people and society at large—and in most cases, we’d argue that this requires breadth, not depth. Certainly, depth might help us individually—and in many cases it also enables us to make a difference in the lives of others. What patient doesn’t want their surgeon to be exceptionally skilled?

But while depth might be valuable, specific expertise is something we can usually apply only to circumstances that are equally specific. If we want to be effective in life across the board, it’s essential to be equipped for whatever situation or circumstance we might encounter. This doesn’t mean that we have to excel in everything we do—only that we need enough knowledge to navigate the world effectively.

While many of the reasons we often cite for the importance of an education (personal enrichment, professional development, or even knowledge for knowledge’s sake) apply to both general and specific knowledge, there are many advantages that only a broad knowledge base can provide.

Here are some practical examples:

• As a conversation tool.
  How many times have we all experienced that awkward silence at a dinner party or event when you realize you don’t have anything to discuss? There are many practical techniques for overcoming these moments—everything from conversational techniques to tricks for physically escaping without offense—but the easiest is this: know enough about the topics at hand to keep the conversation moving! Even the smallest amount of knowledge about a topic can be enough to give you something to contribute and keep things lively. It’s not necessary to be the center of attention—only to ask halfway intelligent questions that give other people the chance to move things along. In fact, this leads us to a second example…
  
• As a way to bring out the best in others.
  A broad knowledge base makes it much easier ask questions intended to give others the chance to talk about something they know well (this can be particularly helpful when engaging in a group in which one person tends to monopolize the conversation). Knowing a little bit about a topic also enables you to contribute something without being tempted to go overboard and monopolize yourself. Giving others the chance to shine makes it much more likely that they’ll feel understood…something that can often be much more important that being considered “right.”
  
• As a tool for gaining more knowledge.
  A knowledge base is like credit—you can certainly build it from scratch, but it’s much easier if there’s something to begin with. Everyone who becomes an expert has to start out as a novice, and one of the most effective ways to gain in-depth knowledge can be to begin with a grasp of the big picture. This makes it possible to mentally connect new information with what you already know, and enables you to draw connections without having to relearn concepts over-and-over. This can lead to a “snow-ball” effect that increases overall comprehension exponentially.
  
• As a basis for understanding what influences and shapes those around us.
  Effective interactions with any individual or group (even at the societal level) requires a grasp of their influences—most importantly, those situations, motivations, and events that led to the current day. The Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (6^th Century BC) noted: “It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.” This concept certainly isn’t unique to war or conflict—it’s essential to understand not only ourselves but those with whom we interact in any context. How can we expect to fully understand those with whom we interact if we don’t have a more general grasp of why things are the way they are? This might not be required of a foot soldier that needs only to follow his orders to kill—but for the General, it’s vitally important.
  
• As a sign of what it says about us and our role in the world.
  Every one of our words and deeds sends a message to those around us and reflects something about who we are and how we perceive ourselves. These messages have a tendency to be self-fulfilling; perceptions greatly influence the way we interact with the world and set the stage for our own expectations and those placed upon us. As a result, the messages we send to others can affect greatly who we ultimately become. A broad knowledge base sends the message that we have high expectations of ourselves and that our interests—and our vision for our role in the world—extend beyond the immediate issues that we face on a daily basis. Confidence perpetuates itself—and a broad knowledge base demonstrates confidence in your ability to make sense of the world around you.
  

As we noted up front, actually building and maintaining breadth of knowledge can be exceptionally difficult when day-to-day life requires that our attention be focused on more pressing matters. These are only a few examples of why a broad knowledge base is important and how it can help. For practical tips and techniques for getting a grasp of the “big picture,” keep reading The Gent’s Cheat Sheet as we share the best of what we can find.

-tg

Related posts:

1. GCS Recommends: The Economist
2. The Art of Giving Praise
3. Manliness and the Gent
4. Great Quotes: MLK on the Silence of Friends